The BBC's Richard Lister"At this first meeting...they focused on creating a united front on the Balkans" real 56kColin Powell, US Secretary of State"This alliance has succeeded in maintaining strategic stability through many difficult and trying decades" real 56k

Tuesday, 27 February, 2001, 14:09 GMT

Powell outlines Nato vision

Nato ministers turned out to meet Mr Powell

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has reassured European allies by underlining American commitment to the Balkans.

At the same time, he confirmed Washington's intentions to build a national missile defence shield, in the face of wide European objections.

Mr Powell was speaking in Brussels on Tuesday after his first meeting with Nato allies as secretary of state.

Powell meetings

North Atlantic Council meeting

Tri-lateral with UK and France

Bilaterals with Greece and Turkey

Nato chief Lord Robertson

European Commission

In comments that will be a relief to Europeans concerned about US commitment to peacekeeping in the Balkans, Mr Powell said: "The simple proposition is, we went in together. We will come out together."

He also underscored the Bush administration's determination to deploy a national missile defence system (NMD), despite criticism from some of the Washington's closest allies.

'Our responsibility'

"We believe it is our responsibility to create a missile defence that protects the United States, our allies and friends," he said.

And though he promised that the US would consult its allies about the "specific technologies and architecture" of NMD, he did not suggest any other country could talk the US out of the basic idea.

Many Europeans oppose US missile defence plans

European capitals are by no means enthusiastic about the Bush administration's commitment to NMD.

Mr Powell arrived in Brussels after a whirlwind trip through the Middle East, where he says he received solid support from Arab leaders for revising sanctions against Iraq to lessen their impact on the civilian people and target the Iraqi regime.

Mr Powell is discussing Iraq sanctions in a three-way meeting with the UK and French foreign ministers in Brussels.

The UK has been broadly supportive of the sanctions regime, while the French are increasingly critical.

There will also be separate talks with the Turkish and Greek foreign ministers and with Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson.

Building relationships

BBC Defence correspondent Jonathan Marcus says it is important for Mr Powell to build bilateral relationships with his European counterparts in Nato at a time when trans-Atlantic relations are in a state of flux.

The US fears that the EU's plans for a 60,000-strong rapid reaction military force will compromise Nato.

The French do not support the current sanctions on Iraq

But Mr Powell said the US both welcomes and supports the creation of a European defence identity.

After his Nato appointments, Mr Powell will cross the Belgian capital for talks with European Commission President Romano Prodi and the EU Commissioner for External Affairs, Chris Patten.

Our correspondent says there could be bumpy times ahead for Nato, so it is important that Mr Powell is able to show that the US is willing to listen as well as to lead.